It’s one thing to ask if the Bucs could trade back in this year’s draft, but it’s another thing to wonder if they should make a move down in the first round and acquire a couple of more picks along the way. Considering the talent level this year, the lack of interest in quarterbacks compared to other drafts, and the overall needs that the Bucs have, it might favor Tampa Bay to move back in the first round and still find some quality players that can start sooner rather than later.

Why The Bucs Should Trade Back

That’s certainly how they feel over at Pro Football Focus, as the Bucs were named by Pewter Report alumn Trevor Sikkema as one of three teams that should trade back. The Colts and Vikings were listed as the other two teams. This is what Sikkema had to say:

General manager Jason Licht is more likely to trade down than up, but make no mistake: His phone stays active during the draft. He made his way to the general manager’s chair through the scouting department ladder, so building his team through the draft is his priority. He knows that having more draft picks is often a recipe for success.

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Buccaneers currently pick at No. 19 in the first round. If linebackers Jihaad Campbell or Jalon Walker are available, Tampa Bay could jump on them. Campbell, in particular, brings versatility after posting a 13.1% pass-rush win rate, grading positively on 17.1% of run plays and forcing incompletions on 13.3% of targets while recording 22 coverage stops in 2024. But perhaps the Buccaneers don’t love any of the pass rushers, linebackers or cornerbacks at that point. I could see them luring some teams further down the draft order into moving up for certain pass rushers, quarterbacks or even running backs.

Let’s say the Browns or Giants want to jump the Steelers for a quarterback. Let’s say one of the teams in the backend of the draft wants to jump the Broncos for a running back. Maybe one of those same teams wants to move up for a pass rusher. The Buccaneers may have a few trade-down angles to consider.

This is all circumstantial based on how the board breaks. Should many offensive linemen or defensive linemen go early on, this may open the Bucs to have some players at linebacker, edge rusher, cornerback and safety that they like fall to No. 19. We see every year that teams do get desperate, and as Sikkema pointed out, a team might want to grab a quarterback before the Steelers do with the 21st pick, making the Bucs a prime spot to move up to.

“It just kind of depends on how things fall,” Licht said last week. “You can’t walk into it saying, ‘I am definitely looking to trade back,’ because you don’t know what’s going to fall to you. You might be able to get the same level of player in the second round as you can in the fourth round at certain positions, so I think you’ll maybe see a little bit less of that.”

Bucs Have Track Record Of Late-Round Hits

Since the Bucs don’t have a sixth-round pick this year, Jason Licht may want to recoup that selection, or at least double up in the second, third or fourth round with an extra pick. It was ever so important in the 2024 draft when safety Tykee Smith and wide receiver Jalen McMillan were both taken in the third round at No. 89 and No. 92, respectively, followed by Bucky Irving at No. 125 in the fourth. All three were impact players for Tampa Bay last season and the team would certainly like to replicate that level of achievement for the 2025 draft.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: USA Today

“We’ve had some good production,” Licht said. “My staff and the coaches have done a great job. The last three years – I would say combined, those drafts were elite when you put them all – add them all together. We want to try to keep doing it. It doesn’t always work out that way but keep doing it. I think this particular draft just seems it be a little bit more leveled out, which I’m excited about. I’m not saying that’s something I don’t like about this draft. It’s something I do like about the draft.”

There have been some good examples of Tampa Bay getting exceptional production from late-round picks in recent years. Irving is the latest example coming from the fourth round and then rushing for 1,155 yards for the Bucs during his rookie season. Zyon McCollum, a fifth-rounder from 2022, has worked his way into becoming a starting at cornerback, is another example.

Not every late-round pick is going to be a hit, but the Bucs have ways to get the most out of those Day 3 selections more than other teams. And that’s why they won’t have a problem making a trade with another team next week. Can Licht find more starters late in this year’s round? He believes so.

“If you get a little lucky, but yeah,” Licht said. “I’d say [the talent in the draft] goes beyond the third round if we do everything right.”